Acclima Solar DataSnap ACC-AGR-D02S User manual

USER MANUAL
Solar DataSnap | Sep. 30, 2021 © 2021 Acclima, Inc. https://acclima.com
Solar DataSnap
SDI-12 Data Recorder
Model # ACC-AGR-D02S

USER MANUAL
Solar DataSnap | Sep. 30, 2021 © 2021 Acclima, Inc. https://acclima.com
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................ 4
Supported Sensors.................................................................................... 5
Description of Solar Data Snap ................................................................. 5
Connections............................................................................................ 6
Status Lights........................................................................................... 6
A Word About Operating Temperature ................................................... 7
Snapview Software & Driver Installation.................................................... 7
Using Acclima Snapview Software .......................................................... 11
Add Acclima Sensors ........................................................................... 12
Add non-Acclima Sensors .................................................................... 12
Modifying Sensor Settings.................................................................... 13
Selecting Acclima Moisture Sensor Locations...................................... 13
Physically Installing Acclima Moisture Sensors .................................... 14
Wiring Sensors to the SDI-12 Port........................................................ 14
Configuration ........................................................................................ 15
Connecting to a DataSnap.................................................................... 17
System Configuration Settings ............................................................. 17
Validating Sensors................................................................................ 20
Automatic Data Synchronization........................................................... 20
Read Sensors Manually ....................................................................... 21
Copying Sensor Data ........................................................................... 23
View Graphs......................................................................................... 23
Graphing Sensor Data.......................................................................... 24
Gather Data from Micro USB Thumb Drive .......................................... 26
Viewing and Working with Data............................................................ 28
Exporting Sensor Data ......................................................................... 31
Tools..................................................................................................... 32
Waveform Capture and Graphing in Snapview for Advanced Users ....... 32
Upgrading/Installing Your SnapView Software and the Firmware of
DataSnap Data Logger......................................................................... 33
Opening the Waveform Capture Module in SnapView ......................... 34
Capturing a Sensor Waveform ............................................................. 35
The Legend .......................................................................................... 37
Deleting a Waveform ............................................................................ 37
Zooming................................................................................................ 38
Saving to CSV File ............................................................................... 38
Loading from a CSV File ...................................................................... 38
Technical Specifications of the Solar Datasnap ...................................... 39
Physical Characteristics ....................................................................... 39

USER MANUAL
Solar DataSnap | Sep. 30, 2021 © 2021 Acclima, Inc. https://acclima.com
Environmental....................................................................................... 39
Electrical Specification.......................................................................... 40

USER MANUAL
Solar DataSnap | Sep. 30, 2021 © 2021 Acclima, Inc. https://acclima.com
Introduction
The Acclima Solar DataSnap is a simple-to-use data recorder. It provides
the ability to read and log data from a variety of SDI-12 sensors.
Convenient, fast data collection is supported through a micro-USB thumb
drive. Alternatively, the Solar DataSnap can be attached via USB directly
to a Windows PC laptop to which the data can be downloaded and viewed
from the SnapView software. Each Solar DataSnap supports up to 10
SDI-12 sensors.
The Solar DataSnap handles all timing requirements of the SDI-12
communications protocol, making it possible to take SDI-12 sensor
readings using a simple terminal program such as HyperTerminal or
PuTTy.
Solar DataSnap Hardware Features
•Data logging
•USB to SDI-12 Bridge
•Supports charging of Lithium Ion battery cell through solar or USB
connection
•Short circuit protection
•Acclima SnapView software provided
•Compatible with terminal software applications like HyperTerminal
or PuTTy
•Simple configuration. The Solar DataSnap collects up to five data
points from the SDI-12 “M!” command from every sensors one
every interval.
SnapView Software Features
•Automatically synchronizes all connected DataSnaps
•Manual reading of sensors
•Supports connecting to an unlimited number of DataSnaps
•Setup wizard for simple DataSnap configuration
What is included?
•DataSnap motherboard and processor
•1 pluggable terminal block for the SDI-12 connection
•USB cable, type A to micro
•18650 lithium ion battery cell
•Solar panel attached to a NEMA weather resistant polycarbonate
enclosure
•One and ¼” male terminal adapter with lock nut and 45° PVC elbow

USER MANUAL
Solar DataSnap | Sep. 30, 2021 © 2021 Acclima, Inc. https://acclima.com
Supported Sensors
The Acclima Solar DataSnap will support all SDI-12 sensors that are
compatible with versions 1.0 through 1.4 of the SDI-12 Protocol
Specification, including all Acclima SDI-12 sensors. However, the Solar
DataSnap only reads and records the first five data points of the SDI-12
M! command.The Solar DataSnap’s internal data recording functions do
not support reading or recording of any other data points.
The Solar DataSnap is limited to 500mA. Some sensors with higher
power requirements may require an external power connection.
The Acclima SnapView software supports all SDI-12 sensor types.
Description of Solar Data Snap
Micro USB Port
Solar Power Port
SDI-12 Connection
Terminal Block
LED Status Indicators
Battery Cell
& Cradle
Power On/Off Switch

USER MANUAL
Solar DataSnap | Sep. 30, 2021 © 2021 Acclima, Inc. https://acclima.com
Connections
The Solar DataSnap has the following connections:
USB
After software installation, the included USB cable can be used to
connect to a PC or a micro-USB spin thumb drive can be plugged in to
automatically download the csv data files for a spreadsheet program.
SDI-12
The terminal block can be unplugged from the DataSnap while wiring
sensors together. Multiple sensors can be wired in parallel to the same
SDI-12 port.
Solar Power Port
This connection from the Solar Panel provides 5-10 volts for the battery
cell charging circuit.
Note: Turn the On/Off Switch to ‘ON’ at the beginning of a data collection
cycle. Turn to ‘OFF’ when storing the logger in the Winter.
Status Lights
The Solar DataSnap utilized 4 status LEDs as follows:
Charging LED
The green charging LED will illuminate when the charging circuit is active.
This will occur with voltage applied from the Solar Panel, or when plugged
into a USB power source.
USB LED
The green USB LED will illuminate when there is an active USB
connection. This occurs when connected to a computer with proper
drivers installed, or it occurs when a USB Thumb drive is plugged in and in
use. The light will be on solid to show a valid connection has been
established and will blink when there is activity over the USB connection.
When using a USB charger, the USB light will not turn on, because there
is no valid usable USB connection present. However, the charging light
will come on to indicate that power is being drawn from the USB charger
to charge the battery.
When using a thumb drive:
Plug in the USB thumb drive firmly into the micro-USB port. Wait a
second to allow the USB connection to stabilize and link to the drive. The

USER MANUAL
Solar DataSnap | Sep. 30, 2021 © 2021 Acclima, Inc. https://acclima.com
USB light should then come on and blink to indicate data flow to the thumb
drive. When the LED turns off and stays off, the thumb drive can be
removed.
Error LED
The red error LED on the Solar DataSnap performs the same function as
on the original DataSnap – reporting communication errors and short
circuit errors.
SDI-12 LED
The green SDI-12 LED will be off when the SDI-12 port is not active.
When the port is active, the LED will turn on and will blink when there is
communications traffic over the SDI-12 bus.
Power ON Battery Test
When turned on, the green USB and SDI-12 LEDs will flash together to
indicate power is present. If the battery voltage is low, the red error LED
will flash once.
A Word About Operating Temperature
The Acclima Solar DataSnap has physical limitations on what temperature
range it will fully operate in. If it will be used in freezing weather (≤0°C or
≤32°F) for extended periods of time, the end-user should plan to
periodically have the lithium-ion 18650 battery swapped out for a fully
charged replacement because the battery charging circuit is disabled at
0°C and 32°F. The battery will still run the data logger for the duration of
the remaining charge, but it will not get recharged at or below those
temperatures. Note: When recharging backup batteries in a desktop
charger, care should be taken to allow the batteries to warm up to room
temperature before recharging them or the battery could be permanently
damaged.
Similarly, if the temperature inside the enclosure exceeds 50°C or 122°F
the battery will stop charging.
SnapView Software & Driver Installation
The SnapView software must be installed prior to connecting the Data
Snap to the computer. The Data Snap requires a Windows™ driver to be
installed before use. The driver is installed during the installation of the
SnapView software.

USER MANUAL
Solar DataSnap | Sep. 30, 2021 © 2021 Acclima, Inc. https://acclima.com
Once the software is installed, connect the Data Snap to the computer via
a USB cable. Windows™ will automatically detect the new Data Snap
hardware and will attempt to find the appropriate driver. This driver
installation process will only occur once per Data Snap. Each new Data
Snap will follow the same process.
IMPORTANT NOTE! Be sure to install the SnapView™software
before connecting the DataSnap to your PC’s USB port!
Where to Find the Free Download
The SnapView software can be downloaded from
https://www.acclima.com/sdiproducts under Solar DataSnap.
Minimum System Requirements
•Microsoft Windows 7™, Windows 8™, or Windows 10™ operating
systems <<<(Note: The screenshots and steps below may vary
slightly depending on which version of Windows™you’re
using.)>>>
•50 MB hard drive space
•Available USB port

USER MANUAL
Solar DataSnap | Sep. 30, 2021 © 2021 Acclima, Inc. https://acclima.com
Figure 2
Installing the driver on Windows™
When the Data Snap is first connected to the computer, it will
automatically be detected and the installation of the driver will begin.
Windows™ will then search for the driver in its preconfigured driver
folders. This will happen because the driver was installed to this location
when the SnapView software was installed.

USER MANUAL
Solar DataSnap | Sep. 30, 2021 © 2021 Acclima, Inc. https://acclima.com
Figure 3
Once the driver is found and installed, the Data Snap will be assigned to a
port and will be available for use. In figure 3, the DataSnap has been
assigned to a port. The driver is now installed and ready for use. Click the
‘Finish’ button.